Geez, those guys are little.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Yesterday I added people to my ‘N’ scale layout for the first time. Geez, those guys are little! The way I ended up placing them was to put a small puddle of CA on a piece of cardboard. Then I would stick a toothpick between the legs of my people to hold them and dip their itty-bitty feet in the glue. I would then put the people in position with the toothpick, and then hold them in place with a finger on their head while I pulled the toothpick out from between their legs. Although this worked fairly well (they were usually properly positioned by the 2nd or 3rd try); I was thinking the whole time that there MUST be a better way to do this.

So, I’m asking you experienced guys… Is there??

2

I have to be the one guy in the world who hates super glue. A little puddle of GOO will allow you to place some on their feet and press them in place. A toothpick rolled in the excess that squeezes out will remove it from the layout and it will flex a lttle if bumped.

3

Super glue has its place, but I prefer glue that is a little more flexible–Walthers GOO or Aleene’s Tacky Glue are nice alternatives. The tacky PVA is nice because it sticks quickly and dries clear, making it nice for that sort of application–it also cleans up with water, a plus if you need to reposition something.

4

Just thought of this and it could work. Try a glue stick like kids use. You could rub it accross the bottoms of the feet and it dries clear.

5

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like using something other than Super Glue would be the way to go.

6

I use white glue to hold figures in place on my layout. It dries clear and is not really damaging to the layout. If you want to change it, the white glue cleans up easy.

7

Yes! I know what you mean about these “little people!” Another question to add to yours, since I just started populating my N-scale layout also: is there any reliable way to position my figures “temporarily”? I would like to be able to move my figures around to other spots occasionally; is this feasible, or are my people stuck in the same spot for all eternity (or at least until my next layout)??

8

Check Woodland Scenics “Accent Glue”. It’s designed for this purpose. A dab on the feet, let it dry and then use tweezers to position. The glue lets go when you pull on it. Warning: the glue is stronger than the bond of paint to foam insulation board. WS also make tweezers for the purpose.